Scavengers Read Online Free Page A

Gloria had been working here since before he’d left for the Air Force and the old girl was still here all these years later. Gloria smiled, rolling her eyes. She tossed some little plastic creamer containers onto the table and returned to her spot behind the counter.
    Hoover waited a respectable amount of time after her departure and then lowered his head closer to Robbins. Robbins could smell the Marlboros on his breath. “You see the troops in town?”
    “Have to be a blind man not to.”
    Hoover looked at Ray, who looked at Dave, who looked back at Hoover. “I called Stewart up at H-systems. He couldn’t talk to me on those phones. Met me half way this morning on my way here.” He took a drink of his black coffee, wiped his mouth on a paper-stiff white napkin and continued, “Stew says that explosion last night — you know about the plane?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Well, Stew says the plane was taken down in a terrorist attack.”
    “The hell?  Way out here?”
    “Yeah, some fat General was on board.” Hoover took another drink. “Apparently, whoever the guy was, he was instrumental in a bombing campaign of some terrorist’s village over in Afghanistan and the terrorist didn’t take it very well.”
    “And Stew knows all this — how ?” Robbins stirred his coffee with a dirty spoon, the metal clanking against the ceramic.
    “Come on, it’s Stew. What don’t he know? Anyway, Homeland Security moved the risk level of the country to Severe   — level red — and locked down Hunt County.”
    Robbins scowled. “There’s got to be more to it for a lockdown.”
    “That’s all Stew knew. He said there was supposed to be some press conference with a statement from the President this afternoon. Probably be on CNN.” Hoover waved Gloria over for a refill.
    Robbins studied the faces of the other men, and shot a look toward the soldiers. “What about Careflight? Ambulances?”
    “Locked down. No one in or out of the county,” Hoover said. “Martial law, and I heard we got ourselves a 9 o’clock curfew at night.”
    “That’s crazy.”
    One of the soldiers crossed the scarred floor, stopping beside the table where Robbins was seated. “Excuse me, gentlemen, but are one of you Dr. Matthew Robbins?”
    “That’d be me,” Robbins replied, holding up a finger.
    The soldier handed him a laminated tag with Robbins’s photo and social security number.  A printed of ID of some sort.  For him.
    “Jesus, y’all are efficient.”
    “This is your access pass to allow you movement during curfew hours. You need to wear your badge at all times when you’re out so there won’t be any confusion. The doctors and nurses at your hospital have also been given badges as well as law enforcement and fire personnel.” The solider sounded very official.
    “Uh, thanks, I think,” Robbins said, “Couldn’t wait till I got in to work?”
    The soldier shrugged.  “They told us to find you here.  We had a list of names and had to get the IDs to everyone this morning. Local medical personnel, mostly. Powers that be expect a busy day for you and your crew. You might have had trouble getting in and out of the hospital later without it.”  The solider glanced at the old men. Then he gave them a nod and a thin lipped smile and walked away.
    Robbins watched him go. “Why do I feel like I just became part of the Gestapo?”
    Hoover chuckled. “Well, at least they won’t interfere with your work, considering how you live at that hospital.”
    “What are you, my wife?”
    “Hey, speaking of Gestapo—” Hoover began.
    “Just make sure you put a big X in front of wife and you’re forgiven.” Robbins motioned Gloria over for more coffee.
    She waved the pot toward the door. “What did they want?”
    “Oh, nothing really. Gave me a clearance pass to be out after curfew.” Robbins watched her pour the coffee. “Honey, if you want to leave the pot and save yourself some trips, we don’t mind.” He gave her a wink.